Foldable archery target matt stand



1963 c. A. SAUNDERS FOLDABLE ARCHERY TARGET MATT .STAND Filed May 14, 1962 INVENTOR. Charla 5 A. Sau nderfi United States Patent 3,109,618 FOLDABLE ARCHERY TARGET MATT STAND Charles A. Saunders, 313 Morton Road, Columbus, Nebr. Filed May 14, 1962, Ser- No. 194,272 7 Claims. (Cl. 248-199) This invention relates to stands and more specifically to foldable stands for supporting archery target matts.

The equipment used in an archery game is usually transported to and from areas in which the archers engage in their sport. An archery target matt stand, therefore, should (among other requirements) be light in weight and easy to assemble. Many of the archery target matt stands in general use are far too heavy and cumbersome to be carried easily and generally comprise several moving assemble in position for properly supporting the target and matt. Moreover, most of these stands present relatively large surface areas just behind the matt which a matt-arrow can strike, thereby to damage the arrow.

According to the invention, the foregoing and other difficulties are overcome by constructing the stand out of a minimum of parts secured together into a rigid but foldable support structure which assumes the general folded form of a U having generally parallel extensions from the ends of each of a pair of disproportionate legs of the U. In the described embodiment, the stand basically comprises two similarly bent metal bars which are resiliently and pivotally connected for location from a closed to an opened position. Attached impaler means are provided for penetrating and supporting the target matt and preferably comprising a Z-shaped element, one leg of which is tapered to an impaling spear point.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive and simply constructed archery target matt stand which is light in weight and small in size, which is easy to assemble, which may be positioned on an archery target line without obstructing the flight of arrows, which supports an archery target matt with a minimum of area presented to oncoming arrows, and which may be folded to a compact structure for storage and shipment.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable archery target matt stand shown in a folded shipment or storage position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1, taken from the position 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of the structure of FIG. 1, showing the stand in an opened matt-supporting position, the matt being indicated in phantom lines;

FIG. 4 is a perspective front view, generally similar to the view of FIG. 3, showing, in phantom, arrows impaled in the archery target matt; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the opened foldable stand shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

With reference to the drawing, the foldable archery target matt stand is generally indicated by the numeral 2, as seen in the closed storage or shipment position shown in FIG. 1. The stand 2 comprises a first support member 4 and a generally similar support member 4a.

The support members 4 and 4a respectively comprise generally U-shaped bars 6, 6a having first legs 8, 8a, second legs 10, 10a, and arcuate joinders 12, 12a therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, the said first legs 8, 8a are disproportionately longer than the said second legs 10, 10a.

parts. They are frequently diflicult to i joinder portion 31.

Generally J (or LJ-shaped members 16, 16a extend from the ends 14, 14a of the second legs 10, 10a of the generally U-shaped bars 6, 6a. The members 16, 16a comprise base portions 18, 18a and leg portions 20, 20a, the base portions 18, 18a being connected at one of their ends to the ends 14, 14a of the U-shaped members 6, 6a and at the other of their ends to the leg portions 20, 20a.

Second generally J (or L)-shaped members 24, 24a extend from the ends 22, 22a of the first members 16, 16a. The members 24, 24a comprise base portions 28, 28a and leg portions 26, 26a, the leg portions being connected at one of their ends to the base portions 28, 28a and at the other of their ends to the ends 22, 22a of the members 16, 16a.

A generally Z-shaped member 30 extends from the end 29a of the support member 4a, the extension, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, being provided by a suitable bend in a unitary piece of metal stock forming the support member 4a. The member 30 comprises a joinder portion 31 and two generally parallel leg portions 32 and 34 extending from either end of the One end of the leg portion 34 is connected to the end 2% of the support member 4a, as seen in FIG. 1, and one end of the leg portion 32 is tapered to an impaling spear point 33.

In the described embodiment, the U-shaped members 6, 6a, the generally J (or L)-shaped members 16, 16a, and the generally J (or L)-shaped members 24, 24a of each support member 4, 4a respectively lie in the same plane. Also, the Z-shaped member 30 extending from the end 23a of the support member 40 also lies in the plane containing the elements of the support member 4a. I

The support members 4 and 4a are pivotably and resiliently connected at the respective ends 29, 29a. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, this joinder is effected by a simple weld 27 of the metal stock comprising the unitary similarly bent metal bars comprising the support members 4 and 4a.

In use with a conventional bulls eye archery target matt, such as the matt 35 shown in FIGS. 3-5, the compacted closed structure shown in FIG. 1 is manipulated as follows:

The legs 10, 10a of each generally U-shaped member 6, 6a are respectively rotated away from their opposite legs 8, 8a. Obviously, the members 24, 24a connected to the members 16, 16a, which are in turn connected to the legs 10, 10a, will simultaneously be rotated away from the legs 8, 3a. After the desired angle of separation A (see FIG. 5) is achieved, each of the support members 4 and 4a is then rotated away from each other about the pivotable connection 27 to effect an angle of separation B (see FIG. 3). An archery target matt 35 may then be impaled onto the spear point 33, the extent of penetration thereof being determined by the length of the leg portion 32 of the Z-shaped member 30. In. addition to the point of impalation, the target 35 will be supported by the stand 2 by virtue of its resting upon the leg portions 20 and 20a of the members 16 and 16a respectively. The composite so produced may then be rested upon the ground, the arcuate joinders 12 and 12a and the base portions 28 and 28a being the contact points. Obviously, when arrows 36 are directed at and into the target 35, a minimum of obstruction to oncoming arrows by virtue of the presence of the stand 2 will be evidenced.

Disassembly of the target and stand, as for storage or shipment, is effected by a reversal of the operation described above, that is, the target 35 is removed, the support members 4 and 4a are rota-ted toward each other until they are approximately parallel, and the legs 10 and 10a are rotated respectively toward the legs 8 and 8a until they are approximately parallel. The change in the angle A is, of course, effected by virtue of the inherent resiliency of the metal stock comprising the support members 4 and 411. Similarly, the change in the angle B is effected by virtue of the resiliency of the 'weld 2'7 and also by virtue of the resiliency of the metal stock of the legs 8., 8a immediately adjacent thereto, that is, in an actual embodiment of the invention comprising welded cast iron members, the change in the angle B is apparently partially pivotal in nature in that the weld resiliently gives and is likewise apparently partially resilient in nature in that the cast iron stock immediately adjacent to the Welded joinder resiliently gives to efiect the desired separation of the support members.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction, arrangements, operations, and materials for the various elements without departing from the spirit and the scope of the instant invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable staid for supporting an archery target m att, the stand comp-rising:

a first stand member comprising:

a generally U-shaped bar comprising a first leg, a second leg, and an arcuate joinder therebetween, the

said first leg being longer than the said second leg;

a first generally J-shaped member comprising a first base portion and a first leg portion, the base portion being connected at one of its ends to the leg portion and at the other of its ends to the said second leg of the said generally U-shaped member;

a second generally J-shaped member comprising a second base portion and a second leg portion, the said second leg portion being connected at one of its ends to the said second base portion and at the other of its ends to the said first generally J-shaped member; t

a second stand member identical to the first stand member, the end of the said first leg of the U-shaped bar of the first stand member being pivotably connected to the end of the said first leg of the U-shaped bar of the second stand member; and

impaling means'extending from the connected ends of the first legs of the U-shaped bars,

wherein the second leg of each U-shaped bar of each support member may be rotated away from its respective first leg, and the U-shaped bar of each support member may be rotated away from each other, such that an archery target matt may be impaled on the impaling means and seated on the first generally J-shaped member of each support member.

2. A fo-ldable stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the U-shaped bar, the first J-shaiped member and the second J-shaped member of each support member lie in the same plane.

3, A foldable stand as claimed in claim 2 wherein the impaling means comprise a spear-tipped element lying in the plane or" one of the support members.

4. A foldable stand as claimed in claim 3 wherein the impaling means comprise a Z-shaped element.

5; A foldable stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein each support member is formed of unitary metal stock, the pivotable connection between said support members being effected by a weld.

6. A foldable stand as claimed in claim 5 wherein the impaler means comprise a Z-shaped spear tipped extension of the metal stock of one of the support members,

7. A .foldable stand for supporting an archery target matt, the stand comprising:

a first stand member of unitary metal stock comprising:

a generally U-shaped portion comprising a first leg, a second leg, and an 'arcuate 'joinder therebetween, the said first leg being longer than the said second a first generally J-shaped portion comprising a first base portion and a first leg portion, the base portion being connected at one of its ends to the leg portion and at the other of its ends to the second leg of the generally U-shaped portion;

a second generaliy J shaped portion comprising a second base portion and a second leg portion, the second leg portion being connected at one of its ends to the second base portion and at the other of its'ends to the first leg portion of the first generally J-shaped member;

a second stand member formed of unitary metal stock identical to the first stand member;

means resiliently connecting the end of the first leg of the U-shaped portion of the first stand member to the end of the first leg of the U-shaped portion of the second stand member; and

impaler means comprising a Z-shaped spear tipped element extending from the end of the first leg of the first support member,

wherein the U-shaped portion, the first J-shaped portion, and the second J-shaped portion of each member lie in the same plane; wherein the Z-shaped portion of the first stand member also lies in the plane of the U-shaped portion, the first J-shaped portion, and the second J-shaped portion thereof; and wherein the second leg of each U-shaped portion of each stand member may be rotated away from its respective first leg, and the U-shaped portionof each stand member may be rotated away from each other such that an archery target matt may be impaled on the impaling spear point and seated on the first generally J-shaped portion of each stand member.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A FOLDABLE STAND FOR SUPPORTING AN ARCHERY TARGET MATT, THE STAND COMPRISING: A FIRST STAND MEMBER COMPRISING: A GENERALLY U-SHAPED BAR COMPRISING A FIRST LEG, A SECOND LEG, AND AN ARCUATE JOINDER THEREBETWEEN, THE SAID FIRST LEG BEING LONGER THAN THE SAID SECOND LEG; A FIRST GENERALLY J-SHAPED MEMBER COMPRISING A FIRST BASE PORTION AND A FIRST LEG PORTION, THE BASE PORTION BEING CONNECTED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO THE LEG PORTION AND AT THE OTHER OF ITS ENDS TO THE SAID SECOND LEG OF THE SAID GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER; A SECOND GENERALLY J-SHAPED MEMBER COMPRISING A SECOND BASE PORTION AND A SECOND LEG PORTION, THE SAID SECOND LEG PORTION BEING CONNECTED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO THE SAID SECOND BASE PORTION AND AT THE OTHER OF ITS ENDS TO THE SAID FIRST GENERALLY J-SHAPED MEMBER; 